Baby basket



A. A. ANDERSEN, JR

Jan. 3, 1 950 BABY BASKET 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 12, 1944 INVENTOR am a. amdw,% BY

7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTbR. av-lfim, d. W

guani w wfi A. A. ANDERSEN, JR

BABY BASKET Jan. 3, 1950 Filed May 12, 1944 Jan. 3, 1950 A. AQANDERSEN, JR 2,493,181

BABY BASKET Filed May 12, 1944 TSheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

QM 9' Arm/4W5 Y5.

Jan. 3, 1950 A. A. ANDEl QSEN, JR

'BABYBASKET' 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 12, 1944 INVENTOR M mam ka lw a 7??41 ATTORNEYS.

BABY BASKET Filed May 12, 194 7 Shets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BY a

Qmahq F A-w Jan. 3, 1950 BABY BASKET '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 12. 1944 Afro/PM v.9.

. l- I A u 3 z Q Q Q Jan. 3, 1950 ANDERSEN, JR 2,493,181

BABY BASKET Filed May 12, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 efy/o INVENTOR. m 6. AM lv Patented Jan. 3, 1950 "UNI TiED iOZFiF-ICE 13m BASKET Arthur AsAndersen, Jr.,'afirystai Lake, 111- Apiilicatin'MaYI24 1944,;SerieLNp. 1535,2362

12 Cldims.

"The invention relates "to ababTbasket that may be used for several -purposes. ii/Lore particularly, the basket of :this'invention :is adapted to be used as a crib, bath 'tab'la hammock, and auto "basket.

One'o'f the objects vof'thisinyention is toprovide ajbasket having a fabric container portionand removable braces 'for securing "said container in assembled position. More particularly, the fabric container is designed "to provide corner-pockets in whichtcorner posts are mountedhand the braces cooperate with these cornerposts to' form a skeletonframefor the fabric container.

A further object of theinvention is to'iprovide a "basket of the character above described in which the bracing means are folda'ble into a compact .unit when .not in use.

The invention further consists 'initthe several features hereinafter described -and more particularly defined by claims at the .concluSion corner of the device looking into the interior parts being broken away and parts beingshown in section;

Fig. '7 is a detailed sectional view-similar .to Fig. -3 showing the device adapted for iiseas a bath table, parts being broken away;

Fig. 8 is a. view similar to Fig.,31 ShOWing extension flaps in position when the device is used as a hammock;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation view showing the device when in use as a hammock;

Fig. 10 is a detailed side elevation :v-iewota fastener that maybe used for one .of'the' ham mock ropes;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the device in use as an autobasket, parts of theautomobile seat being shown in section;

Fig. '12 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. zshowing certain modifications in the bracm Fig. 13 is a'detaiied sectional view taken on the line 13-43 of Fig. 12;

"Fig. -14" is a detailed sectiona'l'view taken onv the line I l-I4 of fig. 13;

52.15 s a *de a led w o amod fiedjiorm of "brace; parts being "broken "away and parts being shown in section;

Fig. 16 is a perspective'view of :am'cdified iorm of the device in use as an :auto basket-parts being broken away;

"Fig. 17 is a detail sectional'view taken onthe line "Fli! (Sf-Fig. "16 with partsin' a iolded'position;

g. 18 flea-detailed view o parts shown in. Fi If).

The-ba k includes. a fab ic body or container B gportion ."p ef a ly 7 of heavy duc or canvas having'a bottom 15, sides l. 6 ;and 'endsjlj'l. The bottom is preferably secured to the sides and ehdsby's'titching 1L8. Both sides have extension flaps l9.,.andbothends have extension flaps 2,0. These may normally be folded down within the inner walls "of "the container. Where the .f 1a'ps Ifi'and the sides 1"6 join at the 'top,'a lengthwise extending rope receiving'pocket 21 is icrmed'by stitching The device is of generally rec.- tangular shape, and at its corners pocket s rips 25 are provided secured .by stitching 25 to the sides I 6 and-ends: H, "respectively; lfhese strips cooperatewith the corner portions formedby'the j ini g of "the sid s and ends to f rm plost receiving pocke'tsZS. .Wco'den "or metal pQSts MS extend thr ugh he pocket and project from opposit nds ofth c nta ner, the bottom bein cu out at the. ccrnersior. thi pu pose. These posts are fixedly secured" in the pockets by rivets 2T andwashers'fl; At their upper and "lower ds a v f the p st has rec sses .orslots 29 tending at rig t "angles t ea h; other.

"R movable tog le "link brac s are adap ed o e c nne edflto opposi ely disposed pos s and actin conjunction with the po s a a sprea er meansto hold the fabric bodycovering inassembled position. A.s shown in Figsit 5, eac bracemeans n lndesanangl bar stand .a solid bar 31 piyota lly. secured together at '32, the :inner nd f he ar "3'1. ad pted to. rest wi hin he ang e of thebarjifl, h endsofeach .o the bars being. round 'asiri i ca eil lat-3.3 so a o readi y seat themselves inthe. recesses, the channel shap d ar avine its nd 3 ormedi y bending in partsof the sid'escfthe cha e1 as shuns/ .11 in *Fig. '5. To hold these braces in alined position a ll r *i 'lid 'bly m unted on the chann l section bar-t'fl, so'tha't when moved past the pivot 3 32, it will also engage the solid bar 3| to hold the bars against pivotal movement and in a straight line position.

With this construction when the collar 34 is in a released position, the toggle links or bars and 3| may be swung about their pivot 32 to an acute angle position, and then after the ends 33 are brought into alinement with the slots of the posts at the opposite ends of the body, these members 30 and 3| are moved to a straight line position and then locked by sliding the collar 34 over the bar 30 into the position shown in Fig. 2 under which conditions the bars because of their calculated length produce stretching pressure on the fabric sides of the body to hold it in an assembled position. These toggle braces brace both the opposite ends and the opposite sides of the structure at the top and bottom of the container, and in the structure shown in Fig. 1 they are positioned inside of the walls of the container. When not in use, the toggle braces may be folded up as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the bar 3| nests within the channel of the bar 30 and is secured therein by the collar 34.

The fabric body may have fabric carrying handles 35 secured to its end portion by stitching 36 and in the assembled position shown in Figs.

1 to 3 forms a baby basket or crib.

When it is desired to use this basket as a bath table, one of the side fiaps I9 is moved up to project from the top of the basket and is then extended across the top thereof and secured at its free end by snap or glove fastener connection 31 with the opposite side of the basket as shown in Fig. 7, the button portions 31 of these fasteners being secured to the upper edge of the side l6.

For converting the basket into a swinging basket or hammock, ropes 38 are run through the pockets 2| and secured at their ends to supporting hooks 39 as shown in Fig. 9, and for this purpose a connector 40 of the form shown in Fig. 10 may be used comprising a hook engaging metal ring 4| and a metal strap 42 pivotally connected at one end to said ring and provided with spaced rope receiving holes 43 through which the ropes 38 at the side of the basket may be passed to form a self-holding hitch.

In order to shield the infant within the basket from the weather, the side flaps l9 may be brought up to extend above the basket and be secured together by a cord or rope 44 secured to the hooks 39 and passing through gromets 45 in the outer edges of said fiaps to form a tent top and as a wind break, one of the end flaps 20 may be brought up above the basket and be secured to the fiaps l9 by passing the rope 44 through spaced gromets 46 in said flap 20 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

For mounting the basket in an automobile, ropes or cords 41 are passed through the pockets 2| and secured at their ends to spaced seat engaging hooks 48 or other suitable means for suspending the basket against a seat 49 of an automobile as shown in Fig. 11.

Instead of making the brace links as separate units for each side of the basket, they may be formed as a single collapsible unit as shown in Figs. 12 to 14, inclusive. In this instance each side brace includes a pair of toggle links 50 and 5| pivotally connected at their inner ends by a pivot pin 52 and each pivotally connected at their outer ends by a pivot pin 53 with a post connector or plug 54. As the braces for the sides and ends each pivotally connect with a post connector or corner plug 54, all the braces and plugs are connected together as a unit which can be collapsed or folded up by slipping the retainer collars 55, similar to the collars 34 in structure and function, to a release position so that the links of each of the braces may be swung about their pivots 52 to a folded position. Each plug 54 has a cylindrical end 56 adapted to slidably fit in tubular end 51 of a corner post 58 and may be locked therein by a releasable detent 59 slidably mounted in the plug and urged outwardly to a position engaging an opening 60 in the post by a spring 6| as shown in Fig. 14. To permit the insertion of the plugs in the ends of the posts these posts are provided with slots 52 at right angles to each other to allow for passageof the pivot lugs 63 integral with each plug. The links 50 are similar to the links 30 previously described while the links 5| instead of being formed as a solid bar are formed as a channel bar similar to the link 50 but adapted to telescope within the same in the folded position of the links, and instead of a direct connection between the links of the posts they are pivotally connected to the corner plugs. The links 50 and 5! of each brace, however, when the plugs 54 are inserted in the ends of the posts, act in a manner similar to the links 30 and 3| to exert a spreading pressure on the sides of the container to hold it in an assembled stretched condition. In this form the braces at the bottom are disposed outside of the bottom l5 of the fabric body of the basket. It will be understood that the plugs 54 may be fixedly secured in the posts 58, if desired, since the pivotal connections 53 permit the folding of the braces together with the other parts of the'structure when the collars 55 are moved to a released position.

As an alternative construction, which is shown in Fig. 15, the brace means may comprise links 64 formed of metal tubing either pivotally connected to the corner posts in a manner similar to the links shown in Fig. 12 or detachably connected to said corner posts by having their ends formed to engage in slots similar to the slots 29 shown in the first form and to permit ready collapsing of these brace "means. They are each pivotally connected at 65 to a comiecting link 66, and they are held in an extended straight line position by a tube or sleeve 61 adapted to slide over the ends of the adjoining tube 64 as shown in Fig. 15, and when this sleeve or collar 61 is slid back from the'ends of one of the tubes and the connecting link 66, the other tubular part of the brace may be folded down and adjacent the first tube as shown in dotted lines in said figure. This permits the folding of the braces into a small space and in one form the folding of the braces with the fabric structure into a small compact unit.

To permit the carrying of the basket as a suitcase or bag, the flaps I9 may be provided with handles 68 adjacent their free edges as shown in-Fig. 9.

In Figs. 16 and 1'7 I have shown certain modifications of the device Where the same is used as an auto basket. The main basket structure is similar to those previously described and similarly numeraled. The modification consists in making one of the end flaps 68 in the form of a flexible seat having a back 69, bottom 10, sides H and front 12 provided with leg openings 73. The sides II are provided with fiap extensions 14 which may be turned over the top portion of the basket and be secured by snap fasteners 15 to the side walls I6 of the basket to suspend the seat m shes:

within:theibask tandabovethe bottom thereof. Tomreventiany'ztendency .ofthe s a-t thusstormcd fromzshifting bac straps 555 may -.conneot the ro t-portion .of the seat with :the and upper reccwwhi h may be ofthe. i rm shownin Fi 1. cr-Fi -el. The str ps 51:6 pref ably zhaveia d ac a le lo ped end con e tion J51 withthe brac membe ti' lhe basket st c u e m y .b hun a ainsta seat of the autob eby ords :not shown. but simi a tot-h cords 4.1-, onneet d to the ntermed e po tions of t e uppe sid braces and by hooks similar to the hooks 48 with ltQPQLth$fit With this construction the baby sits within the basket in the seat formed .bythe fiap 68 with its le .n oi tin thr u h the op n n s -1 When not in use, this seat formingflapjflmay be folded up against the end of the'basket and be then secured :infolded position eithenby straps 18 secured by snap fasteners 19 to the end-wall the basket as shown in vF 17 or ,byother suitablefasteners connecting thefolded seat with pants of theend wall.

I desire it to be understood that this invention isnot to'be limited to any particular form or arrangement of parts except in so far as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

,Abasket of the characterdescribed,comprising ,a fabric container body havin sides, end,

and bottom portions, and corner ,post receiving pockets, corner posts mounted said pockets, brace means extending between and in end thrust connection with said corner posts at the ztop -and bottom portions of said body to hold the fabric body in stretched assembled condition, a fabric extension flap for'one of theside s of said fabric body at the top thereof and coextensive therewith, and means for detachably connecting the free endof-said flap to the top portion pf the-opposite sideof said body at the upper edge thereofto form a bath table.

2. A basket of the character described comprising a fabric container body having sides, end, and bottom portions, and corner post receiving pockets, corner posts mounted in said pockets, and brace means extending between and in end thrust connection with said corner posts at the top and bottom portions of said body to hold the fabric body in stretched assembled condition, said 1 sides having fabric extension flaps at the tops thereof and coextensive therewith, and flexible suspension means for connecting the free ends of said extension flaps together and hold them in a suspended condition to form a cover for said container.

3. A basket of the character described comprising a fabric container body having sides, end, and bottom portions, and corner post receiving pockets, corner posts mounted in said pockets, and brace means extending between and in end thrust connection with said corner posts at the top and bottom of said body to hold the fabric body in stretched assembled condition, said sides having fabric extension flaps at the top thereof and coextensive therewith, and flexible suspension means for connecting the free ends of said extension flaps together and hold them in a suspended condition to form a cover for said container, one end of said container having a fabric extension flap at the top thereof and coextensive therewith and adapted for positioning adjacent the covering side flaps to form a wind break.

4. A basket of the character described comprising a fabric container body having sides, end, and

B bottomrpportions, and corner ipost receivinghpock+ ets,.corner posts mountedwinsaid pockets, and toggleilinkbracesmeans extendingibetweenandin end thrust connection with said 1 corner posts in the extended 1008113011 of said .links at the top and bottom 2.13012171'0118 :of saidwbody toahold the fabric bod in stretched iassembled condition and connector-s :pivotally connecting together all of said toggle link vbracemeans, the pivotal connectors for said toggle link brace means including plugs having removable connection with the ends of theposts.

:5. tlzbasketof: the character described, comprisin :a fabric container body having sides, end, and :bottom =portions, and-corner post receiving pockets, :corner .posts mounted in said pockets, and .bracemeans extending between and in end thrust iCOFlHBGtiOI]. with said corner posts at the topiandibottom portion-s -of.said body to hold the fabric body instretohed'assembled condition comprisingsets of toggle links and corner plugsthe links of each set being pivotal-1y connected together at their inner ends and pivotal-1y connected at their outer ends -.to opposite corner plugs, said corner posts having recesses in which said -conner plugs are removably mounted, and means for locking each set of toggle links in an extended position.

'6. A -basket of the character describedcomprisi-ng: aefabric container body'having sides, end,'-and outer edges, and a rope forconnecting the outer edges of saidextension flaps together to form a coverfor-said-body.

'7. A basket of the character described comprising a fabric container body having sides, end, and bottom portions, and corner post receiving pockets, corner posts mounted in said pockets, brace means extending between and in end thrust connection with said corner posts at the top and bottom portions of said body to hold the fabric body in stretched assembled condition, said sides having coextensive extension flaps at the top thereof provided with rope receiving openings in their outer edges, a cover supporting rope extending through said openings to connect the outer edges of said extension flaps together to form a cover for said body, one end of said container having an extension flap at the top thereof provided with spaced rope receiving openings adapted to receive a portion of said cover supporting rope to position said end flap adjacent the flaps for the sides of said body to form a wind break.

8. A basket of the character described comprising a fabric container body having sides, end, and bottom portions, and corner post receiving pockets, corner posts mounted in said pockets, and collapsible brace means extending between and in end thrust connection with said corner posts to hold the fabric body in stretched assemble-d condition, said sides having extension flaps provided with handles centrally of and 'at their outer edge portions for carrying the basket in a suspended position.

9. A basket of the character described comprising a fabric container body having sides, end, and bottom portions, and corner post receiving pockets, corner posts mounted in said pockets, brace means extending between and in end thrust connection with said corner posts to hold the fabric body in stretched assembled condition, one of the ends of said body having an extension flap in the form of a seat, means for suspending said seat within the container body from portions of said body and brace means and above the bottom of the same, said seat having leg openings in the front thereof.

10. A basket of the character described comprising a fabric container body having sides, end, and bottom portions, and corner post receiving pockets, corner posts mounted in said pockets, brace means extending between and in end thrust connection with said corner posts to hold the fabric body in stretched assembled condition, one of the ends having an extension flap formed to provide a seat having back, sides, bottom, and front portions, means for connectin the upper ends of the side portions to the sides of the container body over said brace means to suspend the seat within the container body above the bottom thereof, said front portion of said seat having leg openings therein.

11. A basket of the character described comprising a fabric container body having sides, end, and bottom portions, and corner post receiving pockets, corner posts mounted in said pockets, brace means extending between and in end thrust connection with said corner posts to hold the fabric body in stretched assembled condition, one of the ends having an extension flap in the form of a flexible seat, means for suspending the seat within the body from portions of said body and brace means above the bottom thereof, said seat when not in use being foldable against the end portion of the body, and means for holding the folded seat in its folded position.

12. A basket of the character described comprising a fabric container body having sides, end, and bottom portions, and corner post receiving pockets, corner posts mounted in said pockets, brace means extending between and in end thrust connection with said corner posts to hold the fabric body in stretched assembled condition, one of said ends having an extension flap formed to provide a seat having back, sides, bottom, and front portions, the sides of said seat having extension flaps, means for detachably connecting said extension flaps over the top of said container body and to the sides thereof to suspend the seat within the body above the bottom thereof.

ARTHUR A. ANDERSEN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 336,679 Williams Feb. 23, 1886 430,294 Mackenzie June 17, 1890 498,245 Delaney May 30, 1893 826,332 Hayden July 17, 1906 914,104 Binney Mar. 2, 1909 954,421 Connery Apr. 12, 1910 1,105,156 Oliphant July 28, 1914 1,130,777 Ward Mar. 9, 1915 1,192,091 Miller July 25, 1916 1,278,806 Wheildon Sept. 10, 1918 1,433,457 Hunter Oct. 24, 1922 1,480,591 Bakesef et a1 Jan. 15, 1924 1,582,272 Josephson Apr. 27, 1926 1,975,332 Rehkopf Oct. 2, 1934 2,032,141 May Feb. 25, 1936 2,345,295 Schettler May 28, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,728 Great Britain Nov. 17, 1908 564,019 France Oct. 10, 1923 

